Chapter 283 This is the Celestial Empire

Chapter 283 This is the Celestial Empire

Chapter 283 This is the Celestial Empire

The envoy of the Ryukyu Kingdom was Prince Shang Jian of Ie, and the deputy envoy was "Ginowan Okinatra" Xiang Youheng.

When Shang Jian saw Shao Quanzhong, he took two quick steps forward, brushed his sleeves, and knelt down on one leg.

"Shao Zhongtang, you have to make the decision for the country below!"

The tent was dismantled, and Shao Quanzhong stood with his hands behind his back, "What grievances have you suffered?"

"The lower country has always been loyal to the imperial court. After becoming a vassal, it has never stopped coming to the court. However, the Japanese are ambitious and have always intended to annex the lower country.

Fifty-eight years ago, during the Ryusa War, the Japanese Satsuma clan invaded and took away the Amami Islands. We were unable to defeat the Japanese pirates, so we had to feign compromise with them.

The Satsuma Domain regarded us as its vassal, calling itself the "Gokokugen" of Ryukyu, and sent "Zaiban Bugyo" to monitor us and exploit us in every way.

In order to make guns and cannons, the Satsuma Domain forcibly confiscated all the copper in our Ryukyu Islands. Seven years ago, 750,000 kilograms of sugar were confiscated at one time, and in recent years, another 220,000 kilograms were confiscated through continued extortion.

The people of Ryukyu Kingdom were living in poverty because of this, but that was not enough. We had to pay tribute rice to Satsuma every year, and the Japanese pirates also issued a "Wen Tai Order" in Ryukyu, forcing us to exchange one copper coin for two iron coins, causing the price of copper coins to soar and the prices of goods to rise.

Now Satsuma is planning to formally annex Ryukyu, but it has not yet been implemented because it is preparing for a civil war with the shogunate. Once the internal situation of Japan is calm, it will be time for us to destroy the country.

We have always insisted on being a vassal state of the Qing Dynasty, and under the oppression of the Japanese pirates, our lives are very difficult. This time, the foreign minister came to the court and saw that the army of the Lord Zhongtang was powerful and powerful. We begged the Lord to send troops to help us drive out the Japanese pirates. Our loyalty to the Qing Dynasty is evident to all. "

Shang Jian was in tears and felt extremely wronged. Shao Quanzhong comforted him gently, "Alright, alright. I know your loyalty. I don't even care about the Emperor and the Shogunate. What's the point of the Satsuma Domain?"

Shao Quanzhong closed his eyes and thought for a while, "It was because I didn't spare the time to seek revenge before, so I let the Japanese pirates' heads grow for two days. As a result, the Japanese pirates actually dared to take the initiative to stab me. They really don't know how to live or die.

How about this, you get on my ship and wait for a while. When my fleet sets out, I will not only deal with that damn Satsuma Domain, but also go to Japan to warn them. I will give them a warning first, and then the Japanese pirates will not dare to mess with you in the future. "

Shang Jian was filled with joy. Ryukyu's loyalty finally earned him the protection of the suzerain state. He retreated with Xiang Youheng.

The next person to pay a visit was Liu Liangguan, the Lan Fang envoy. The Lan Fang had always claimed to be a vassal of the Qing Dynasty, but in fact, the two sides did not have a suzerain-vassal relationship.

During the reign of Emperor Qianlong, Lan Fang established the Kingdom of Lan Fang and requested to be recognized as a vassal of the Qing Dynasty in order to resist the annexation by the Dutch.

Although Emperor Qianlong was a boaster, he was still a sophisticated emperor.

The Qing Dynasty had no navy and could not defeat the Dutch in naval battles. It was unable to fulfill its obligation as a suzerain state to protect a vassal state. How could it feel comfortable being a suzerain state? It did not agree and only agreed to trade between the Qing Dynasty and Lan Fang.

At that time, the Qing Dynasty was still powerful, and it was like a wolf against a stick with a bamboo pole, and both sides were afraid.

The Qing Dynasty did not dare to engage in a naval battle, while the Netherlands was intimidated by the vast territory of the Qing Dynasty on the map. They also remembered the painful experience of being beaten by Zheng Chenggong and did not dare to rashly become enemies with the Qing Dynasty.

The Lan Fang Republic saw this situation and took advantage of the opportunity of Qing merchant ships going to Lan Fang for trade to spread the word to the Dutch that it had become a vassal state of the Qing. The Dutch were unaware of the truth and were indeed scared away, allowing Lan Fang to survive for many years.

During this tribute visit, Lan Fang knelt down on both knees as a vassal state, but the Qing Dynasty did not take it seriously and still regarded Lan Fang as a friendly country.

Liu Liangguan came over and kowtowed to Shao Quanzhong, "Master Zhongtang, Lan Fang was founded by overseas Chinese, and their sincere love for China has never changed. We came here this time to beg the Qing Dynasty to accept our vassal state, but we were not able to do so.

Our Lan Fang Republic once occupied the whole of Borneo, but in recent years it has been continuously encroached upon by the Dutch, leaving only the territory of West Borneo. The red-haired devils are determined to destroy us, and one day Lan Fang will be bullied by them and destroyed.

Please, Master Zhongtang, consider that we are all Chinese and allow us to be vassal states."

this--

Shao Quanzhong was appointed as the Grand Councilor, but he never stayed in the Council. When the Council held a meeting early in the morning, Shao Quanzhong was still sleeping in the West Warm Pavilion. Who dared to call him?

He had always thought that Lan Fang was a vassal state of the Qing Dynasty, but he didn't expect that it was not. It was Lan Fang itself that used the banner of the Qing Dynasty as a tiger skin to scare the Dutch.

Well, the bigwigs in the Grand Council, including the newly appointed Lord Qiao, did not understand the strength of the Nanyang Navy. They were unwilling to make enemies with the Dutch and did not dare to accept Lan Fang.

You don’t dare, but I do!

With the rise of Britain, the Dutch have long been in decline. People in the Grand Council don’t know about me, but I do.

You Dutch devils are so bold. I don't have time to bully you, but how dare you bully the Chinese in Borneo?
"What is that Liu Liangguan?" "I'm here!"

"Go to the Military Affairs Office now and tell them what I said. I will accept you as a vassal state. I will handle the formal documents and the vassal state will be counted from the Qianlong period.

Then you go back to Lan Fang and wait. This time when I am on a diplomatic mission, I will pass through the South China Sea and give the Dutch a good beating. See if Batavia's city defenses can withstand the bombardment of the South China Sea Navy. Don't worry, Borneo is yours. If the Dutch don't obey, I will beat them into submission."

This is the tone of the great powers and the Celestial Empire. It is really awesome.

Liu Liangguan knelt down on both knees, "Master Zhongtang is so powerful! He is willing to make decisions for us overseas wanderers. We, Lan Fang, will definitely be loyal and protect China for generations to come."

Liu Liangguan turned to leave, and Shao Quanzhong called out, "Come back!"

"The subordinate is here."

"I heard that your main source of income now is mining. Can you grow rubber there?"

"Yes, of course. The Dutch introduced rubber trees from Brazil and successfully planted them on the island of Java. They can be grown on Java and Borneo, but we didn't introduce them because we don't have a market for them and they don't make much money."

"You are outdated. This thing is valuable now. The Hailing Steam Tractor Factory spends a lot of money every year to transport rubber from Paraguay. Send someone to Hailing to find my wife Wen Xiu and form a joint venture with the Wen Group. We will provide the money, and you will provide the people and land. Open a rubber plantation in Borneo and we will underwrite the sales. We will cooperate well in the future."

Liu Liangguan was extremely delighted.

Shao Quanzhong supported Lan Fang because he was a Chinese.

We can't always use face. If the two sides have close economic ties, Lan Fang's safety will be completely guaranteed.

Liu Liangguan left happily, and Hu Liuniang reminded him, "Yuting, it's time for us to set off."

Shao Quanzhong scratched his head and said, "Call the envoys from Annan and Gongbaung together."

Seeing the envoys of the two countries bowing, Shao Quanzhong spoke before they could say anything, "I know your situation better. The French invaded Annan, and the British bullied Gongbaung, right?"

Seeing the two of them nodding, Shao Quanzhong frowned and thought for a while, "This time when I go to London, I will mention the Gongbang issue to Queen Victoria and try my best to protect you. As for Annan——"

Shao Quanzhong showed a playful expression on his face, "You guys go back and wait first. When I come back from my visit, I will settle the accounts with France."

The Burmese are relatively obedient, but in fact, Annan has always been unruly. Now that they are bullied by the French, they think of the Qing Dynasty as their father.

I have to let you suffer a little first, otherwise you will think you can do it without the Qing Dynasty. Then, hehe, Annan is a good place...

…………

On November 14, the sixth year of the Tongzhi reign, 36,500 Huai Army soldiers boarded a ship at Dagukou and set sail. The ironclad steamship emitted black smoke and headed south.

Three days after the Nanyang Fleet set out, the Bohai Bay froze over. It was a close call.

On November 22, the fleet arrived at the Zhenjiang anchorage to change ships. The next day, the Huai Army returned to Hailing after a long absence.

When the ship arrived at Hailing, it was already dark. The army set up camp outside Hailing City. Shao Quanzhong led his men into the city and returned to the Shao residence, which had been upgraded to a royal palace.

The Shao residence was decorated with lights and firecrackers were set off, not to welcome Shao Quanzhong's triumphant return, but to celebrate his wedding.

What happened in the capital had long been telegraphed back to Hailing. Hu Liuniang had been waiting for Shao Quanzhong for six years, and she was almost getting old, and even Wenxiu couldn't stand it anymore.

As soon as Shao Quanzhong came back, Wenxiu, as the principal wife, held a wedding for Shao Quanzhong and married his two concubines, Hu Liuniang and Ping'er.

Shao Quanzhong didn't even have time to kowtow to his parents before he was dressed in wedding clothes. Gongs and drums played, and two sedan chairs carried Hu Liuniang and Ping'er, who had just changed their clothes, into the Shao residence.

Well, there’s no need to kowtow specially. Shao Quanzhong took the two newlyweds to kowtow to their parents directly in the wedding hall and then sent them to the bridal chamber.

Shao Quanzhong was very cautious about increasing the number of wives and concubines. Hu Liuniang waited six years before he came to the throne, but he ended up marrying two. It is said that he also married two, Xiu'er and Hui'er - Shao Quanzhong's tradition.

(End of this chapter)